quality — English Dictionary

Noun

1. The kind, condition, and/or the set of characteristics of something, as opposed to the quantity of something.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   The lattice structure of a steel profoundly changes its qualities.

   More examples (3)

   Tuc[ca]. […] Can thy Author doe it impudently enough? / Hiſt[rio]. O, I warrant you, Captaine: and ſpitefully inough too; he ha's one of the moſt ouerflowing villanous wits, in Rome. He will ſlander any man that breathes; If he diſguſt him. / Tucca. I'le know the poor, egregious, nitty Raſcall; and he haue ſuch commendable Qualities, I'le cheriſh him: […]

   “That's life,” she said, and buzzed off to keep her vigil, leaving me kicking myself because I'd forgotten to say anything about the quality of mercy not being strained. It isn't, as I dare say you know, and a mention of this might just have done the trick.

   Something about his bearing was uncommitted, as though he were checking not for some bad quality he knew Feldman had, but for some good quality he was afraid he might have.

2. A single trait.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   While being impulsive can be great for artists, it is not a desirable quality for engineers.

   Security, stability, and efficiency are good qualities of an operating system.

3. Good characteristics in particular; level of excellence; freedom of faults and flaws.

   Usage

   • Uncountable

   Examples

   This school is well-known for having teachers of high quality.

   Quality of life is usually determined by health, education, and income.

   More examples (2)

   “I'll tell you what you're going to do. Have you a clean shirt?” “Several.” “And a toothbrush?” “Two, both of the finest quality.” “Then pack them. You're coming to Brinkley tomorrow.”

   He called for China’s cooperation in efforts to improve air quality.

4. Good worth, good make.

   Usage

   • attributive
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   For this building project we need to use quality materials that will last for many decades.

   That was a quality game by Jim Smith.

   More examples (6)

   We had some quality time yesterday!

   A quality system ensures products meet customer requirements.

   A model for discriminating women! A "quality" coat in every sense!

   I mean a lot of the money that obviously goes into universities and their libraries and their facilities and their academics and stuff but I mean I haven’t had a very quality degree to be honest. I think the quality of my education has been crap . . .

   For one I wanted to have what I considered a very quality tracking device.

   A very quality ball club; that was the Braves.

5. Position; status; rank.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The firſt Solemn Embaſſy that the French King ſent to the late King of SIAM, was in the Year 1685, by Monſieur de Chaumont, who went in Quality of Ambaſſador Extraordinary […]

6. High social position. (See also the quality.)

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   A peasant is not allowed to fall in love with a lady of quality.

   Membership of this golf club is limited to those of quality and wealth.

7. In a two-phase liquid–vapor mixture, the ratio of the mass of vapor present to the total mass of the mixture.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

8. The third step in OPQRST where the responder investigates what the NOI/MOI feels like.

   Usage

   • Countable

   Examples

   To identify quality try asking, "what does it feel like?".

9. A newspaper with relatively serious, high-quality content.

   Usage

   • UK usage
   • Countable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   It is argued that in the last ten years or so, quality broadsheet newspapers have become more like the tabloids. Anthony Sampson has argued that 'the frontier between the qualities and popular papers has virtually disappeared'.

Adjective

1. of superior grade

   Synonyms

   choiceprimeprizeselect

   Examples

   choice wines

   prime beef

   More examples (3)

   prize carnations

   quality paper

   select peaches

2. of high social status

   Examples

   people of quality

   a quality family

Noun

1. an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone

   Broader terms

   attribute

2. a degree or grade of excellence or worth

   Synonyms

   calibercalibre

   Broader terms

   degreegradelevel

   Examples

   the quality of students has risen

   an executive of low caliber

3. a characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something

   Synonyms

   characterlineament

   Broader terms

   propertyattributedimension

   Examples

   each town has a quality all its own

   the radical character of our demands

4. (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)

   Synonyms

   timbretimbertone

   Broader terms

   sound property

   Examples

   the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely

   the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet

5. high social status

   Broader terms

   social stationsocial statussocial rankrank

   Examples

   a man of quality